Ray Oliver Byers (1929 - 2021)

Born 17 Oct 1929 in Salem Columbiana County, Ohio, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Shirley Ann (Smith) Byers — married 19 Jan 1951 in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States

Descendants

Died 8 Feb 2021 at age 91 in Chardon Township, Geauga, Ohio, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Dale Byers [send private message]

Biography

Ray Byers was born October 17, 1929 To Raymond Byers and Charlotta Herrington^[1][2] in Salem, Columbiana County, Ohio, United States. His family then moved to Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio, United States, His family moved again, this time to Mayfield Villiage in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States^[3][4] Where he went to School. While in High School he ran on the track team at Mayfield High School where he set a record for running the mile. He went on to graduate from Mayfield High School. After High School he worked as an inspector in a machine shop for a short time. He then changed his career path and spent most of his working career as a Manager for Hardware Stores.

He married Shirley Smith on January 19, 1951, license issued 18 Jan 1951, Marriage solemnized 19 Jan 1951 marriage recorded 23 Jan 1951 .^[5] In 1956 he moved his family to a house that he built in Chardon Township, Geauga County, Ohio, United States.^[6] It was in that house where they raised their family of 4 boys and 2 girls. When his oldest son became a Cub Scout he took on the position of Assistant Cub Master and when the Cub Master was forced to step down about one month later, due to health reasons, he accepted the position of Cub Master which he held for many years.^[7] He remained active in Scouting until his youngest son graduated from High School holding many positions at the district level. Ray and his wife were very active in their church, The Pilgrim Christian Church in Chardon, with Ray serving as a Deacon and his wife serving as a Sunday School Teacher, and later at the Hambden Congregational Church. In fact their eldest son also served as an assistant Sunday School Teacher and a Junior Deacon in the Pilgrim Christian church.

Ray enjoyed gardening and camping in addition to his other hobbies. He was an avid beekeeper, the honey from his hives won ribbons at the Geauga County Fair for several years, and he had several hives back by the many evergreen trees he grew from seeds. He had several dogs over the years as pets and companions.

After he retired he loved to go target shooting with his friends at the gun club he belonged to as well as fishing excursions with friends and family. Near the end his vision started to decline forcing to give up target shooting and restrictions during the COVID pandemic of 2020 forced him to stop going on fishing outings with his friends.

He died 8 Feb 2021 at his home in Chardon Township, Geauga, Ohio, United States after a short illness.

He was buried 11 Feb 2021 in Whitehaven Memorial park, 615 SOM Center Road, Mayfield Village, OH 44143, Section D - Lot 565 S/2 - #5 GPS latitude 41.32.8410 N longitude 81.26.2060 W

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4SL-F21 : accessed 17 March 2019), Ray O Byers in household of Oliver J Herrington, East Liverpool, Columbiana, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 16, sheet 11B, line 76, family 277, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1759; FHL microfilm 2,341,493.
2. ↑ "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4HWF-8T6Z : 14 December 2019), Ray Byers in entry for Charlotta Byers, .
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KW6Y-D14 : accessed 11 Aug 2014), Ray Oliver Byers in household of Raymond S Byers, Mayfield Heights Village, Mayfield Heights Village, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 18-232, sheet 10B, family 210, NARA digital publication of T627, roll 3056.
4. ↑ "United States 1950 Census", database, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:6XB9-2Z4S : Sun Jan 29 19:03:04 UTC 2023), Entry for Raymond Byers and Charlotta Byers, 12 April 1950.
5. ↑ "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1997," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K81J-DDF : accessed 11 Aug 2014), Ray Oliver Byers and Shirley Ann Smith, 23 Jan 1951; citing Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States, reference A216555; FHL microfilm 2251792.
6. ↑ "United States Public Records, 1970-2009", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJGJ-H2XH : 7 July 2020), Ray Oliver Byers, 2004.
7. ↑ personal recollection of Dale Byers